Thirteen Grapes of Châteauneuf

This experience begins in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the most celebrated appellations in the Rhône Valley. The day opens with a visit to a family estate, where you walk through the vineyards and cellars while learning how generations of winemakers have shaped the identity of the appellation. You will taste red and white AOP wines, and may also sample a rare vintage whenever available. At midday, you stop in the village for a relaxed three-course lunch in a family-run restaurant known for its locally sourced ingredients and regional cuisine. Tasting local wines paired with a starter and main course, you gain a deeper sense of the local food culture while chatting with your host about the area’s culinary traditions. The afternoon continues with a walk through the historic village and the ruins of the château built by the Popes in the 14th century, followed by visits to two additional estates to explore different approaches to viticulture and production, and to taste additional wines.

Christopher and Laurent know the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape through long-standing relationships with the families who cultivate them. This allows you to access estates that reflect different approaches to viticulture and winemaking, from cellar practices to vineyard management. As you move between producers, you gain a clearer understanding of the appellation’s complexity and the choices that shape each wine, including how soil composition, grape varieties, and microclimates influence structure and expression. Throughout the day, as you move between producers, tastings build progressively, and include wines not always available to the general public. This is complemented by direct exchanges with those involved in production, offering insight into how each vintage evolves over time. The lunch experience is part of that same arc. It places the wines in the context that completes them, alongside the regional dishes they were made to accompany.

You will be guided by Christopher or Laurent, licensed guides based in Marseille. They have been guiding travelers across Provence for more than eight years, building on more than twenty-five years of personal familiarity with the region’s landscapes, towns, and cultural rhythms. Their work draws on long observation of Provence’s varied terrain and everyday life, allowing them to share both well-known sites and the lesser-noticed stories that make the region distinctive. Christopher is originally from England and Laurent is French. Both spent many years in London before relocating to Marseille in 2013, traveling widely during that time and developing a deep curiosity about place and culture. In 2018 they launched their guiding venture together, bringing their passion for connection and cultural exchange to experiences across Provence. Their approach unfolds at an easy pace with space for conversation, close observation, and pleasure of shared time.

Comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen and a hat. A camera or SmartPhone. ** You can purchase wine at each of the vineyards and pay directly. If you decide to order wines to ship to your home from different vineyards, Christopher and Laurent can help in arranging a bulk shipment so all purchases are sent together. Minimum shipment is 6 bottles, ideal quantity is 12 - you can order mix cases from different wineries under one shipment to your door with all duties & taxes paid.